Featured Horse Properties in Chaffee County
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php
Peaks Veterinary Arena Schedule
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080129-082947
Thought I would let everyone know ,so they don't show up to ride and find the arena is unavailable, of the following upcoming clinic schedule:
Weds. January 30 - Clayton and Sarah Martin 11:00 to 2:30pm.
Sat Feb 2nd and Sun Feb 3rd - Reining Clinic with Kelly. The arena will be being used from 11 to 4 on Sat. and 10 to 2pm on Sunday.
Th. Feb 7 - John Staples 10 to 4
Th. Feb 21 - John Staples 10 to 4, approx.
Thank you, Leslie Harrison ]]>Basic Saddle Tree information
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080126-130111
 Regular Quarter Horse bars - gullet width: 5 3/4" Semi-quarter horse bars - gullet width: 6" Full quarter horse bars - gullet width: 6 1/4"-6 1/2"  Extra-wide quarter horse bars - gullet width: 6 3/4"-7"  Arabian bars - gullet width: 6 1/4"-6 3/4" (has a flatter pitch than quarter horse bars)
________________________________________
Saddle makers estimate that over 80% of today's horses have conformation that will comfortably fit them in either a standard semi-quarter horse or full-quarter horse tree. For most buyers, fit won't be an issue. The bigger challenge will be making sure you choose a saddle with a high quality tree. You should now be armed with enough information to ask the right questions. And when all else fails, price will be a very good indication of quality. ]]>RE/MAX MVP goes to The 101st Denver National Western Stock Show!!
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080119-152614
Beth and I went to Stock show yesterday, Friday the 18th. We had a blast!! We got there around 12:00pm and went straight to find some food. There were plenty of vendors to browse through and wish for fun stuff to take home. If you’re looking for a good deal at stock show though, don’t, while some of the booths do have “sales” going on, you’re going to be hard pressed to find real deals. Most of the products prices are boosted then put on sale, and there’s no competition for lower prices. So if you are wanting buy something fun, bring money. While browsing I did find some decent prices on some decent products. At one booth that sold Western home furnishings I found some Melamine dishware, a plate set with a bronc rider that was only $20.00 and a salad bowl set with the same image that was only $ 30.00. They were very cute, but the salesman wasn’t very nice. Since I wasn’t a big spender, I really wasn’t worth his time. Beth and I both bought belts, one for myself, and one for Beth’s husband. Both were very well priced. Mine was a simple black brushed leather with silver brads and a stamped tongue and buckle flap, it needs a better buckle, but I only paid $40.00 for it. At the Official NWSS souvenir booth I was able to pick up a neat water bottle for only $10.00. It sports a blue metallic case with a cool mouth spout that is totally spill proof! You have to suck on the top to get liquid out of it. So, you can find nice things for ok prices, just not a lot of deals.
Beth and I went to go watch the $10,000 Gamblers Choice Jumpers, but before that we were treated to many jumping classes that kept the excitement going all day long. There were beautiful horses and very talented riders. No spills thank goodness, but lots of thrills.
Photo by Naked Eye Photography - Sheila Johnson
Of course the highlight was the Gamblers Choice. If you’ve never seen it, it consists of a number of jumps set up out in the arena at various heights, and with not distinguished course. Each jump is numbered with a point amount ranging from 40 to 110 points, depending on the difficulty and height of the jump. The rider must determine their own course and in a predetermined amount of time, you must jump as many jumps as possible to rack up as many points as you possibly can. You may only jump each obstacle no more than twice. If you knock a jump down you may not jump it again, and if you have only jumped it once, you loose the chance to earn those points again. In the end the person with the most points in the least amount of time wins. But before it’s over, they have one more chance at another 200 points, & to earn that, they must clear a 5 foot fence. If they knock it down though, they deduct 200 points from their previous total. There were a lot of edge of your seat thrills during this competition, and everyone had a blast.
If you haven’t been to the Stock Show before, you have 8 more days of thrilling competitions to attend. I urge you to go and experience a thrill of a lifetime. I have been going since I was a little girl, I won’t say how long that has been, but suffice it to say that I remember meeting Chris LeDoux when he was still selling tapes out of the back of his pick up and Reba’s concert was free!
If you want to go check out the action online before you head out, go to www.nwss.com or www.nationalwestern.com Good luck and we'll see ya there!]]>Local Equine Business Contacts
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080112-125512
Sheila
Feed & Supply– Martin Feed – 395-4044 15415 CR 306 BV 81211 Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply – 539-2767 201 E. Rainbow Dr Salida 81201
Vets – Peaks Veterinary Service – 395-6250 19677 Hwy 285 Nathrop 81236 Cottonwood Veterinary Service 395-8900 104 Isabel Ct. BV 81211 Mtn. Shadows 539-2533 9171 W. Hwy 50 Salida 81201
Saddlery & Harness – Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply – 539-2767 201 E. Rainbow Dr Salida 81201 Mike Brazil – 539-4198 Woolly Bear Trading Co. - 19410 US Highway 285 Nathrop, Colorado 81236 395-8228
Horseshoers – Andrew Null – Tumbleweed Farrier Svc. – 239-0483 – Salida - 81201 Harry Hansen –Salida - 539-5499
Horse Trailer Deals/Repair Morning Star Auto - 1425 E. Street Salida, CO 81201 - 539-9399 ]]>Winter Clinic at Leslie Harrison's
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry080105-103113
Please email Heide Anderson @ heide@townofbreckenridge.com or call her @ 970.389.3357 if you want to do a lesson and whether you want to be in a group or do a private. If you prefer a group lesson, let me know the level of you and your horse and what type of lesson you'd prefer. For those of us that are not currently boarding a horse at Leslie's barn, there will be a $10 arena fee.
John is from Wichita and has started coming to Colorado to give lessons to Jim Moore's former students since Jim moved to Virginia. John has been coming for one to two weeks each month to give lessons at Stellar Stables in Parker and Ken Caryl Equestrian Center in Jefferson County. He has ridden at the advanced level and has coached students from beginner up to advanced levels. He is a Level III certified USEA (United States Eventing Association) instructor, and is interested in ramping up the instructor certification program here in Colorado. The people that I've spoken with about him have had nothing but really positive things to say about his teaching style and communication. He is actually thinking about moving to Colorado because of the possible client base here.
In any event, you can read more about him and his coaching/instruction at http://www.windermerestables.com/ ]]>Don't hesitate to call your vet!!
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071229-102017
An acquaintance of mine called home at 9:00 at night to find out where the vets office was. The phone was then given to me to discuss the problem with his dog. As he told me what was going on I asked how long this "lump" had been there. I was told about a week. It started out the size of his thumb and over the last 2 days turned into the size of a grapefruit! As it turns out the dog went into surgery to remove a hardend abcess. This inceident got me to thinking about how many people wait until the last possible minute to take their animals to the vet, and some dont take them at all. When I worked at the local vet clinic it was one of the biggest complaints we had. It was extreamly typical for an owner to wait at least a week or more before bring in the suffering animal to get treatment. One of the causes of this was money related, but it seemed that the worst cause was just plain stupidity! You love your animals, thats why you have them, right? So why not take care of them? If you dont know how, there are ways to find that information out. You need to go to a local vet, its free to talk to your vet, or a very minimal charge for a full consultation, but trust me it is worth it. Talk to neighbrors, or other animal owners. Trainers, farriers, or riders, go to the library, or if your reading this, look on the internet while your logged on! Talk to someone at the feed store. There is alot of work to keeping horses, and until you know what your doing,(which you never stop learning how), you need to make sure that you keep a proffesionals phone number handy, they wont mind helping you out if it means the welfare of the horse! Just having a place where your horse can get out of the weather and a pen doesn't mean you are properly taking care of them. They must have a clean and injury free area to be in that is big enough to get proper exercise and not be injured. Also, you need to make sure that your feeders and waterers are safe and appropriately made for what you are using them for. Old bathtubs, or 55 gallon garbage cans do not make good waters or feeders! They can be very hazardous. There are plenty of avenues by which you can get a multitude of information about how to care for your animals. Keep your horse or other pets away from the vets office by taking the time to properly research the type of pet and how to properly care for the animal BEFORE you buy it. Don't wait to long to take them in to see the vet, when in doubt, call your vet to see if you need to bring them in or if there is something you can do at home. You may not think its serious, but your vet paid thousands of dollars on the education to know, not think!
Veterinarians in Buena Vista and Salida
Large animal - - Peak Vet Service - Leslie Harrison 3956250 Cottonwood Vet Services - Joel Stahlecker 395-8900 Mountian Shadows - Kit Riff 539-2533
Small Animal - - Cottonwood Vet Service - Joel Stahlecker 395-8900 Buena Vista Vet Clinic - Greg Kettering 395-8239 Best Friends Mobile Vet Service Beth Ritchie - 395-0968
]]>Christmas is over and so is 2007!
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071226-080520
Well, Christmas is over! I hope you all had a peaceful and generous one. I most certainly did. We went to the families, had gifts, breakfast and naps, a HUGE dinner, and then, of course, went snow plowing for a couple hours! I am so thankful for to be able to be a part of such an awesome extended family. It is so beautiful here in Buena Vista right now. There is so much snow! We had a gorgeous white Christmas, with a call for more on the way. Everyone is adapting well. All the woodland animals, and of course the horses seem to be weathering the storms and chill great.
I am planning on taking the horse out in the next couple days to do some skijoring around the neighborhood again this year! Everyone seemed to enjoy watching me last year with my big grey, so now I am going to try it with Princess. Maybe if she settles into it well, I'll extend our trip out further. There is plenty of snow on the roads that I shouldn't have much of a problem getting around. So maybe you'll see me out and about, if you get up by Crossman, keep an eye out for me, (either on the road, or in a ditch)! Check out this awesome video of Nate Bowers of Bowers Farm in Fort Collins, Colorado that I found on the internet! http://www.bowersfarm.com/skijoring.htm
Please remember that you need to be an experienced horseman to try this, or don't do it at all, you should have someone to accompany you as well, & a helmet and other body protection should always be used.
See ya next week, everyone keep warm and give the horses an extra oatmeal cookie!
]]>Its begining to look a lot like Christmas!
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071215-131145
Well, we only have 10 more days until Christmas folks. I don't think we're going to have to ask Santa for a white Christmas. Most everyone seems to be able to get out a about now. There are some plows that are still out and busy. I have seen alot of snowmobiles so at least someones having fun in all this! Our equine friends don't seem to be to bothered by all the snow. Our horse, Princess at home is rather enjoying it. You will find her during the day out side digging through the snow foraging for whatever she can find to snack on. Although when you see her, she looks like she has a bald face with all the snow covering it. When we go out to feed, Girl, our blue heeler/dingo mix pup bounces around in the snow and the mare gives chase! This has been a game since we brought Girl home last year, but its really rather funny in the deep snow now! Well, I hope everyone is staying warm and dry! Remember to keep fresh water and hay out for the horses. See my winterizing your horse blog below! Have an awesome week and enjoy all the holiday parties I know everone will be going to!]]>So much snow!
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071212-142429
Today the roads are clearing up and traffic is resuming to its normal flow. The temps have been steady around the low 30's and dipping down into the low teens or single digits. Is everyone ready for Christmas? We are quickly gaining on it with only 13 more days left! I thankfully have all of my shopping done. I am cursed with the ability to get done quickly if not through out the year. No last minute stuff for me. Of course I do all of my shopping online or local. I hate the malls, and I don't see the point in giving my hard earned money to a corporation. Plus, people in the malls are just there to spend money and they really don't care about the Christmas Season. Well, good luck to everyone who still has shopping to do. Be careful out there, both on the roads and in the stores.]]>2007 3rd Annual Equine Christmas Parade
http://bvhorse.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry071203-104007
photo courtesy of Sheila Johnson
Buena Vista woke up to be very surprised by the lack of snow on the ground, as was predicted by the national weather forecasters, and instead got to enjoy a beautiful ground drenching rain! Everyone was in good holiday spirits despite the weather and were plenty of riders and spectators to help ring in the Christmas season and welcome Santa from the North Pole!
Even our own Beth Caldwell wowed the spectators in her beautiful Victorian Holiday regalia and horse Phantom. Photo courtesy of Cherie Haarberg
Each year the Chaffee County Carriage Club hosts this ever growing event. Please check out their web page at www.thewoollybear.com/GigPage.aspx?PageID=1469 , if you would like to get involved with the carriage club or the Christmas parade next year! ]]>
